John McConnell, 1834-1904
MCCONNELL, HUNT, HUBBARD
Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/3/2012 at 12:17:06
John McConnell, whose serious illness the News has noted from time to time, passed to his eternal rest Tuesday night. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Episcopal church. Rev. W. D. Morrow in charge. Mr. McConnell was among the early settlers of the north part of the county, locating in Meadow township. Mr. McConnell was a Union soldier and received a fearful wound in battling for his country's existence. He was a good man and had many friends, whose hearts will be saddened at the news of his death.
Source: The Clay County News, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; March 10, 1904.
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The funeral of John McConnell, whose death was noted last week, took place Thursday at 2 p.m., at St. Stephen's church, Rector Morrow conducting the services. Burial was in Riverside cemetery.
Mr. McConnell was born at Aberdeen, Scotland, June 24th, 1834, and when seven years old moved to Belfast, Ireland. When 18 years old he came to America, settling in the state of New York.
In 1862 he enlisted in the 104th New York infantry, entering the service as a private. For meritorious service he was promoted to a lieutenancy, soon after which he went home on a furlough and received a grand ovation, receiving as a present a valuable sword and beautiful sash. He ever cherished these presents as treasures and they do go down to his familiar reminders of the familiar reminders of the high esteem he was held.
At the battle of Antietam, Mr. McConnell received terrible wounds, about two inches of his left fore arm being entirely carried away, and the arm was ever afterward practically useless. When his wounds had healed he again reported for duty and was assigned to the invalid corps, where he served to the close of the war, most of the time in charge of confederate soldiers confined in prison camps in the state of New York.
March 10th, 1864, at Batavia, New York, he was married to Miss Alice Hunt, a sister of Mrs. Ackley Hubbard, of this city. Soon afterward, with his wife, he moved to Butler county, Iowa, and in 1871 came to this county, settling on a homestead in Meadow township, where he continued to live until advancing years unfitted him for farm life, when, with his family, he moved to Spencer.
In 1891 Mr. McConnell and wife went to the Pacific coast to live, but soon after their arrival there Mrs. McConnell died. He continued to make his home their for a time and then returned to Spencer, where he made his home with his daughter, Miss Maggie, until death came.
Mr. McConnell was a good man in the broadest sense of that word. He led a quiet and pure life. No man ever questioned the honesty of his motives. He was kindly and genial to an unusual degree; had charity for for and malice toward none. Among his finer qualities was his passion for music and he played the violin like a master.
Old Scotch airs were his especial delight, and often did he delight his friends by his touching renditions of them on the violin. In the life of this man all may find much that is worthy of emulation.
Source: The Clay County News, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; March 17, 1904.
Interment in Riverside cemetery
Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
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